After five years living and hiking pretty much every weekend in Sydney, we’re making it our mission to find lots of new walks this year (instead of returning to our old favourites time and time again).
The trails around Seaforth Oval in Garigal National Park, just south of Manly, are walks we hadn’t tried before, but after this one we know we’ll be back.
The loop track takes you along four different trails with fantastic views of Bantry Bay and lots of classic bushland that belies how close you really are to the city. There are a few steepish climbs but enough flat track in between that it’s not too difficult.
Here’s what to expect on one of our favourite Garigal walks.
Seaforth Oval to Bluff Lookout Loop
The Stats
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6.3km
Elevation: 236m
Type of Trail: Loop
Starting Point: Seaforth Oval
Highlights: Bush track, bay views, panoramic lookout
Starting the Timber Getters Track
You’ll start off on the Timber Getters Track (an old logging track) and head immediately downhill on a series of well formed staircases.
It’s very easy to follow and within minutes you feel like you’re properly out in the bush. The scenery is nice enough but it gets much better when you hit the Bay Track.
Seaforth Oval
Timber Getters Track
After walking downhill for just under a kilometre you will reach the old jetty at Bantry Bay. This is a pretty spot to look out at the water, particularly if you are here on a sunny day - we weren’t so apologies for the slightly gloomy photos!
It’s marked as a picnic spot, and there is one picnic table just up in the bush behind the water, but we wouldn’t say it’s fantastic picnic spot by any means. We’d recommend hanging on for the Bluff Lookout which has spectacular views and lots of space for a picnic!
Onto the Bay Track
This was our favourite part of the whole walk. You follow a narrow dirt track along the water with gorgeous views of the bay for almost a kilometre. Even on a really overcast day the views were fantastic.
If you’re walking after heavy rain this section can get a bit muddy, but there’s almost always a little side trail to avoid the worst of it.
The path is a little rougher than the Timber Getters with some rocky sections, but overall it’s fairly flat and easy.
Towards the end of the kilometre you’ll start to see mangroves appear and it feels like much more of a wild place.
The mangroves at Bantry Bay
Leaving the water behind you’ll pass lots of picturesque overhangs and it feels a world away from the city.
The track then begins to climb and gets steeper the further you go on the path up to Bluff Lookout. The trail gets a bit rougher and there are bigger rocks to scramble up.
It does get fairly steep and the odd rock was a bit slippery after the rain but there are no steep drop offs so it isn’t one of those scrambles where it feels in any way nerve wracking.
The scramble up to the Bluff Lookout
You’ll see a number of rocky outcrops before you reach the official Bluff Lookout and we actually preferred the view from those.
There are two lovely ones just below the official viewpoint which make a great place to stop for a break and have a picnic if you have one.
One of the views below the actual Bluff Lookout
They offer fab views over the bay surrounded by forest and as they are very marginally off the trail it felt really secluded.
Three kilometres into the walk and you hit the offical Bluff Lookout which is huge and has more great views.
Onto the Ghania Track
Just beyond the lookout you’ll find a big signpost with a map of the all the trails in the area. We were a little put off taking the Ghania Track at this point because the sign only showed it as a mountain bike trail, whereas others were marked as for both cyclists and walkers.
However, after seeing a few runners going for it we did too.
Normally I don’t like shared use trails because I always think a cyclist is going to come up behind me at speed, but honestly we didn’t see a single bike on the track and - as it’s for experienced cyclists only - I doubt many use it.
For the most part the trail is narrow, but there would always be room to move out of the way if needed.
The trail itself starts on almost a cobblestone type surface which I didn’t love but quickly turns into a standard bush track.
It undulates a little for a fair amount of the way, but there are never any big climbs and it is far easier than the trail up to Bluff Lookout.
All the major elevation gain is definitely done by the time you hit the Ghania Track.
The scenery is pretty and the path winds its way around the bush before coming out above the tree line with wide open views to the forest on your right.
You can see lots of little houses nestled into the hills in the distance and it’s a really picturesque scene.
The trail soon curves away from the city and you are looking only on forest again. It’s not long before you exit the Ghania Track and hit trail number four: The Engravings Track.
The Engravings Track
Unfortunately you start the Engravings Track beyond the engravings site so we’ll have to come back to check that out another time.
From the Ghania Track exit you’ll head onto fire trail inbetween tall scrub, but it isn’t long before it gives way to bush track again.
This section does suffer a little from being close to a main road, the views are all bush but unfortunately the sounds are mainly that of the cars.
If you can zone that out it is a lovely finish to the walk. The track gently undulates until you find yourself at the junction with the Timber Getters Track where you carry on straight, back to the car park.
If you’re looking for other walks in the area, we have you covered in this detailed guide to the best walks near Manly.
Packing suggestions for Garigal National Park
Having the right gear can make a huge difference. Here’s what we pack and have relied upon for years:
Sunscreen: Cancer Council Active. With a high SPF, but not the greasy feel of other sunscreens. Makes a big difference when you’re working up a sweat on a sunny day! Check it out on Amazon
Good Rain Jacket: North Face This is an essential item we always pack in our bag! This jacket from North Face is designed to keep you dry but also comfortably warm (many rain jackets will make you feel like you’re in a sauna). Check it out on Amazon
Bushman Spray: Good for keeping off the mozzies and any other bugs. Check it out on Amazon.
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon or direct with Osprey
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Check them out on Amazon
Trekking poles: We’ve used Black Diamond for years as they are light, solid and durable. Check them out on Amazon.
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check them out on Amazon
Essential information about the Seaforth Oval to Bluff Lookout Loop
Parking at Seaforth Oval
There is a large car park at Seaforth Oval and parking is free with no time limit.
Garigal National Park entry fee
Although this walk takes you through the national park you do not need to pay the entry fee when starting a hike from the oval.
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Are you planning on hiking at Garigal National Park? Have you done the trail from the Seaforth Oval to the Bluff Lookout? Let us know in the comments below!
